Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-08

coupons 30 be genuine and deliver them 20 her
o1icer or pay In money. Many taxpayers ha1
rendered coupons IN pHymest of their taxes and
then Immediately disposed OF tue coupons 70 other
tax payers, whereby the state neither received
money nor coupons Ia other instances the tax
payer whose properly ad been levied upon and
sold after tender OF coupons sued the Treasurer
aud recovered the money paid without deliver
ing the coupons rendered, and the state received
nothing for the taxes
Immediately after the adjournment Of the
General Assembly Mr.. J. Y. Cooper and other
hnglish citizens procured from tho Circuit Court
Of the United States for the Eastern district OF
virginia an injunction restraining the Auditor
OF Public Accounts. the AitOrney-Gen9ral, and
all the attorneys for the Commonwealth ami
sreesurors IN the state from doing any act 20 put
the law In force.
Win tho view Of testing the legality Of such
proceedings on the part Of tho Federal Judge
tho Atiorney-GcnerGl and TIE attorneys Tor the
Commonwealth for several counties nevertheless
inStiiut the suits required and proceeded 10
obtain judgments against the delinquent tax
payers.
For this the Attorney General and attorneys
Tor tho commonwealth for Fauquier aud Lou
doun counties we're found guilty % contempt by
tho Circuit Court of the United States. aud cnch
were fined ana Imprisoned until the ino thould
10 paid and they should have dismissed all
pending suits aud entered the judgments which
had been paid satisfied. The officers positively
refused TO ODey the order, aud we're Imprisoned.
Inc >tato at once employed counsel ana ob-
taiue1 Brits Of hdbcds corpus from the supreme
Court Of the United states. under which the Of
hccre woro released upon their recOgniz1nce 10
await the decision OF tho COuit he co sc5 were
fully argued on the Hth Ot November by coun-
sol employed by the Stato and decided on the
9Th instant. The full text Of the court has not
yet reached me, but the at approved May u,
1871, - recognized as valid, and the proceedings
OF the Circuit Court Of the United States re-
straining the OficeIGo OF the state from enforcing
the act and impnsoninG them for conforming
thereto are condemned and reversed as without
authority and against the eleventh amendment
20 the Constitution Of tho United states
view OF the recent decision Of tho Supreme
Court OF the United States it may be reasonable
20 suppose that the Dor 0rdholders. rs soon n they
consider that decision, will be disposed 20 make
dobt settlement whose obligations can be
faithfully carried out without an increase Of tax
alton. would suggest 10 the General Assembly
the passage Of joint resolution slspending for
u reasonable timo the Institution OF all legal
proceedings under the act passed May u, 1851.
have assurances which deem entitled 10 con-
hdonco that the course ] have suggested, II
adopted, will be attended with results salts
factory TO all concerned.
THE CODE.
Since the adjournment Of The extra session Of
the last Legislature | am informed that tho re-
visers Of the Code have been at work earnestly
and faithfully ina preparing suitable index and
a proper digest and caption Of the different sec
tons and references 10 the statutes and Gdtudgci
casos. This could Dot be dOue Until after The
General Assembly had adopted the Code. SOmo
inevitable delays have occurred I'm making con-
ttAHL5 anu lOi inc pTlntiuE anu htLiiiE Ieduy lOI
toe work. The printing. however, IS being ra-
pidly done, and will Do completed by The 18th Of
January.
The completion Of this important and useful
work. in which the whole State is so much in
tercsted, should be RE subject OF congratuia-
ton 10 the Legislature and 70 the SfatA clear
laws. drawn IN indisputablo HhCuage, cannot
always he enacted; trcir terms however, should
be closely searched at the timo Of passage, in
order thnt thf ir future construction may be sim
pliicd. while the Interests of the State demand
that they Oe grouped and placed before her citi-
zens in The most apparent and accessible shape.
The tIuie for the new Cote 10 60 into effect
should be extended. because there Is not inter-
val enough after tho printing Is completed 70
distribute IL before the date now designated for
the laws therein 20 be operative.
DEPARTMENT OF EDCcAToS.
Your attention Is specially invited to the I'm
portaut department Of education. Our public
school system, as shown BY Official records for
the school year closing July 81. 1851, exhibits
substantial ani healthy progress The eric .cy
and general success Of system Of popular Cdu-
cation depends upon tho amount OF funds pro
viGCd by law for It's support, the iudici0us and
economical expenditure Of such funds. the
ability aud skill and fidelity Of those charged
with the immediate supervision or lis opera ions,
and on tho announcement and moral support
accorded IL by the people. During the past year
the amount Of money raised and applied 10 the
public schools, The number oi schools opened
and teachers employed, and tue number Of pu-
pills enrolled and in average attendance arc nll
greater than during any yea since .he system
was inauCuratod.
Information In detail and special recon-
mcndati0ns will he contained in tho forthcoming
annual report Of the Superintendent Of Public
Instruction. The importance of such further
judciOus Bud friendly legislation as will not only
maintain. but also Increase the efficiency aud
uscfulocss Of the system, earnestly cOmmend5
itself 70 fhc attention Of tho General Assembly.
Reports from State institutions fer technical
end higher education exhibit an encouraging
degree Of prosperity.
The financial condition OF some of.them has
undergone decided improvement. while the pa
tronsge Of all OF them has been well su.tained'
and in nearly every iuStGncc has materially in
creased. The present scholastic year IS marked
by decided increase in the number Of matricu-
lstes in almost ell these institutions. while In
some this increase Is exceptionally large. In
addition TO the facilities afforded by tho state
for the education Of her people there are num-
her Of excellent schools ana colleges conducted
by private individuals and by the different
Churches. While these have nc connection with
tho State government they are TO be recognized
as amOug the effective educational forces OF the
Commonwealth. IL l. a matter OF special graft
fcation that an unusual degree OF prosperity u
attending them during the current year. Tho
increase in the number OF scholars at schools Of
this class Is proof OF the growing prosperity OF
those who send them there.
As an evidence Of the prosperous condition OF
our educational institutions, IL may DC mention
cd that on the lst Of December. 1885, there we're
2S7 students registered at the Uniycrelty OF Nir-
giua. On the same date of this year ihore were
registered 36l. At the Virginia Military Institute
on the LIT OF December 1856 there werc l35 cadets
ON the same date this year there were l66 cadets
Az the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical
College on the 1st Of December, 1856, there were
S. studentA Al The corresponding date this year
there were 130. Tho state Female Normal
School ~ Farmyille. in its management, ell
cheney and results, is highly satisfactory. There
are in the School OF Practice and Observation
and Normal School proper 2l5 students. AT the
Vircinia Normal and Collegiate Institute De-
comber !. 1885, there were l62 academic students.
On December l, 1887. the number oi academic
students was ls2.
These inslituiicns all deserve aud should re-
ceiye tho hearty support Of the representatives
OF the people. Their work Is closely interwOycn
with our entire educational system. The higher
round of the educational ladder may not be
reached by all classes. Dut is within tho reach or
all WDO climb boldly and successfully the lower
rounds Of the same ladder. Indeed, Mr Jeuor-
son. the founder Of our great university, ex
pressed this view when he said: "We should
algovs keep an eye steadily on tho whole sys
ten Of education, while the great GelIccn pub
licist. DR.. Iieber represented the -anc ldea
when le tells us that " the university aud COM
mon schools are the two Duttrcsses of the arch II
public education" II is essential 20 the proa-
pority OF both that each should be kept strong,
sound, and firm.
commend that 10y further legislation the General
Assembly cndeavOr 10 inprOvc tho system In
sparsel7-settled districts IN the ci1eront coun-
ties, In these districts tho facilities tor public
school education are susceptible Of improve
mept / would al lsO recommend that some loSlS-
latiye action be taken which would authorize
the beginning Of elementary industrial educa-
tion or manual training ia the common aDd
graded schools. Great tcchnica! schools wita
large endOwments are not within the reach ot
NIL but by moderate expenditure by tle local
authorities elementary industrial teaching can
be introduced effectively in largo number o.
schools / cOnsiCer this matter ot great I'M
p0riance for the future as bringing about lrfre
rapid development OF the products OF our state
and making useful member, In their respective
communities OF her citizens. The Miller Man
ua'-Labor School OF Albemarle c0un.y would be
able 70 furnish many teachers in this lac for
the white classes, while the Hampton Normal
aud Industrial destitute could furnish teachers
for ths colOred classes.
The splendid wOrl, tho two institutions have
named are doing within the limits oi the Com
monWcalth cannot he overcatmated, ana their
accomplished superintendents could doubtless
give valuable suggestions ne 70 the feasibility Oi
Introducing manual aOd Industrial training
into our publc-s, hOOl system The rapid de-
veiopment OF the industrial Interests OF Virginia
poiats directly to the importance OF giving spe-
c!al attention 10 these subjects.
The Virginia Military Institute Is doing its ac-
customed coed work in AM ually returning 10 us
educated men equipped for civil or military
purposes. ready aud prepared for either. The
drawing department OF the institute should ne
extended 70 c0vcr the important changer con-
SANITY going on In It's dep lrtmcnt OF applied
sciences, aud an appropriation should be made
which would enable the institute 20 embrace
the application Of photography, now 90 necessary
In engineering and miuing service
The Agricultural and Mechanical College at
10 IgN saFtgt